Seat construction



May 20, 1941. A. H. HABERSTUMP SEAT CONSTRUCTION Filed Aug. 29, 19:3

INVENTOR. ALFRED H. HABERSTU/AP JQAM m .ZITORNEY5.

Patented May 20, 1941 sna'r consrano'non Alfred B. Haberstump, Detroit, Miola, asslgnor to The Murray Corporation at America, Detroit, Mich, a corporation of Delaware Application August 29, 1938, Serial No. 227,244

This invention relates to spring seat constructions, and particularly relates to single, spring seat constructions adapted for use on farm or industrial vehicles, such as tractors.

The seat construction of the present invention is particularly adapted for use on farm implements, such as tractors, or on industrial implements, such as road construction vehicles. Such implements and vehicles are caused to traverse rough ground so that the operators thereof are subjected to constant jarring. It is also necessary that the operators reach various operating mechanisms so that according to the present invention. a seat construction is provided which may swivel to various positions or which may be tilted to an out of the way position so that the operator may stand and at the same time operate Another object of theinvention is to provide a.

seat construction which swivels so that the seat may assume-various positions in. order to more conveniently position the operator for reaching 1 or otherwise actuating various operating mecha- 11181115.-

Another object of the invention is to provide a seat construction which may be tilted to an out of the way position to provide clearance for the "operator to stand up and still operate the tractor or other vehicle to which the seat is attached.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved spring construction which is economical to manufacture, in which elongated spring elements of uniform length may be utilized to provide the spring supporting surface and in which the back is so arranged that it cuts across and over therear corners of the seat to provide a general utility, it is particularly adapted to supproper back support in relation to-- the load supused to designate like parts in the several views throughout:

Figure l is a perspective view with pants removed and parts broken away, illustrating parts in section of a seat construction embodying features of the present invention;

' Fig. 2 is a cross-sectional view taken substantially along the line 2-2 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary perspective view with parts broken away illustrating in section, and with parts removed, of the structure illustrated in Fig. I, particularly showing the backing plate for'the seat frame and the seat partially tilted away from its support;

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary cross-sectional view, taken substantially along the line 4-4 of Fig. i;

Fig. 5 is a fragmentarycross-sectional view, taken substantially along the line 5-5 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 6 is an elevational view illustrating the manner in which the finishing material is attached to the border frame;

Fig. 7 is a cross-sectional view, taken substantially along the line 1-1 of Fig. 6; a

Fig, 8 is a top plan view, on a reduced scale, of the seat construction illustrating various swivel positions that the seat may assume;

Fig. 9 is a broken elevational view of a modifled form of base frame, illustrating the manner in which the spring elements are attached thereto: and,

Fig. 10 is a perspective view of a modified form of seat back for a seat construction according to the present invention.

While according to the broader aspects of the present invention the seat construction is of port. a single person and be used on the type of equipment above mentioned. Also, according to certain of the broader aspects of the present invention, various types of spring elements may be used to form the spring load supporting surface; but the seat of the present invention is particu larly adapted for the uses intended when elongated sinuous spring elements of the type disclosed inthe patent to Kaden, No. 2,002,399, issued May 21, 1935, are used to provide the spring supporting surface. Such spring elements embody in general a length of wire bent into sinuous shape and provided with a set on anarc of smaller radius than the arc the'elements assume whentheir ends are fixed in position. This initial or permanent set in the'spring provides material resistance against downward displacement when the ends of the spring are drawn outwardly and anchored to assume an arc of longer radius. When the spring strip is so disposed a material resistance against deflection is provided 2 2,242,884 shape to the rectangular shape of the frame l2 which increases with an increase in load providing desirable spring characteristics to the resulting seat formed thereby.

Referring to the drawing and referring particularly to Figs. 1 to 8 thereof, a seat generally 1 indicated at H] is shown which includes a substantially rectangular border frame element l2.

The border frame element I2 is preferably formed of it rolled section of metal having an outwardly disposed flange I 4 adjacent the lower edge thereof and an outwardly disposed flange l6 adjacent the 1 upper edge thereof. The flange I 8 is reversely bent as indicated at I8 to provide a curved edge against which the padding and spring elements .bear as will become more apparent from the following description. The base of the frame I2 ".is folded upon itself to provide an intermediate I span the frame l2 and are connected to the front and rear edges thereof. The-last lateral convolution of each of the spring elements 24 is adapted to be received within the channel 22 which is then crlmped downwardly over such last lateral convolution as indicated at 26. The

' thereof where it terminates in a substantially flat media portion '49. The backing member 48 is also formed with inwardly disposed ribs 50 extending from the corners toward the media point of the seat which serve to strengthen the seat construction and also provide grooves or recesses 52 adjacent the media point of the seat on theunder-surface thereof for a purpose to be described in detail hereinafter.

By using a substantially rectangular frame, spring elements 24 of substantially uniform length may be utilized to provide the load supporting surface. In order to prevent chafing of an operators back when using the seat and to provide v a seat which is particularly adapted for the uses ends of the spring elements 24 are thus fixed in p 1 position, and the arrangement of the channel 22 relative to the edge portion l8 of the frame is such that the ends of the spring elements are 1 reversed upon themselves for positioning within the channel 22 with the inner surfaces of the elements 24 bearing against the rolled edge I8.

- By such a construction the last lateral convolutions of thespring elements maybe pivoted within the channel and those portions of the spring elements immediately adjacent the last lateral convolutions overhang the front and rear edges of .the border frame so that soft edges are provided which have particular advantage along the front edge of the seat.

A layer of padding material 38 is disposed on the upper surfaceof the spring elements 2'4 and extends around the'outwardly facing side of the frame l2. A layer of fabric finish material 32, preferably waterproofed, is disposed over the padding material and extends downwardly over the sides ofsisthe border frame. The lower edge of the finish material 32 is folded inwardly upon ber 42 serve to retain the finish material 32 in fposition on the border frame in' that the wireelement 38 in its position within the tunnel 35 "is adapted to be received within the channel 2| formed adjacent the flange l4. The plate. 42 serves to retain the ends 48 of the wire element 38 in position. The plate 42 is then fixed to the --frame l2 bymeans of a screw 4.4 or the like which extends throughtheplate 42 and is received within a threaded opening in the base of the channel 2L.

a backing plate which is complementary in to which the seat of the present invention is intended, a seat back member 53 is provided which has downwardly disposed side portions54 which lie substantially parallel with the end edges of the seat. The ends 54 terminate in an inwardly disposed flange 55 and another inwardly disposed flange 56 which is spaced to the rear of the flange 55 and is also spaced upwardly therefrom. The two flanges 55 and 56 thus provide a space therebetween within which the flange I4 is adapted to be received. The flange 55 thus lies on the under-surface of the flange Hand the flange 56 overlies the flange [4. A screw 51 may be passedthrough an opening in the flange 55 and be received within a threaded opening in the flange l4 for fixing each end of the seat back to' the border frame l2. The seat back 53 is so shaped that it cuts across and overlies the rear corners of the seat, with the major portion of the back then extending along and above the rear edge of the seat preferably immediately above the rear edge of the border frame i2.

The seat just described is adapted to be mounted upon a vehicle so that the seat may be swiveled relative to the vehicle and also may be tilted to an out of the way position so that an operator of the vehicle may tum to manipulate various operating mechanisms and may tilt the seat out of position so that he may stand and continue to operate the vehicle.

The mounting means includes an elongated supporting member 62 which is generally in the form of an elongated tongue extending longitudinally of the vehicle and sometimes projecting rearwardly beyond the rear edge thereof. The supporting member 82 terminates in a substantially horizontal portion. An elongated mounting member 56 is turned as indicated at 68 at the rear edge thereof to provide an open- 1 'ing through which a pivot pin I8 is received. The I pivot pin 18 is mounted in spaced relation to the supporting portion 84, by means of anupstanding 'U-shaped bracket 12 having openings therethrough through which the ends of the pivot pin 18 extend.

I The forward end of-the'member 56 is bentdownwardly as indicated at 14 and then flanged forwardly as indicated at 16 so that the major a tress portion of the member as is spaced from the horizontal portion 64. The member 68 may thus be pivoted or tilted relative to the supporting member 62 about the pivot pin H3. The forward end flange it of the member 66 is provided with a forwardly opening recess 18 which is adapted to cooperate with a pin member so for releasably fixing theforward end of the member it to the supporting member 62. The pin member all is received through an elongated slot 82 in the member t2 and is provided with a wing nut-t l which is adapted to bear against the under-surface of the member 62 when it is desired to ill;

the forward end of the member to to the sup,-

porting member or.

So that the seat it may. be swlveled relative to the supporting member 62, a threaded pivot pin it is disposed through an opening in the flat por- .tion is of the backing plate ilt and a washer is preferably disposedbetween the head of the pin 96 and the top surface of the flat portion 13%..

The pin 9t! extends downwardly through an open ing in the member 66 intermediate the ends thereof, and a spring washer 9% is adapted to be received over the pin 9t and resiliently bear against the under-surface of the member 66. A nut 96 is threadably received over the, lower threaded end of the pin member be so that the spring washer s imay be tightly urged. against the member 65. This structure provides a, swivel connection between the seat and the supporting. member 56 so that the seat may be swiveled to various positions as indicated in Fig. 8. In order rear edge of the border frame. Each of the plate members ltd is bent outwardly as. indicated at W8, whichcorresponds to the flange it above described and is rolled inwardly as imilcated at Hi3, which corresponds to the rolled edge it above described. The plate member we thus forms with the inner wall of the overhanging portion not alone the front and rear edges oi the border frame an upwardly disposed channel H2. This channel is adapted toreceive the last lateral convolution of each of the spring elements 2%. Upwardly opening slots may be provided in the wall of the overhanging portion led so that the spring elements may extend therethrough. [The wall portions may thenbe crirnpcd over the last lateral convolution so that the ends oi thesprins elements lid are anchorml in place. The spring elements are their adapted to bear against the rolled so that. spring elements over the oi the border frame, and the ends are reversed upon themselves for It. So that the back cuts across and overlies the to retain the seat in its various swiveled posie tions, upwardly disposed knobs 98 are formed in the top surface of the member 56. Such knobs are so arranged that theyv are adapted'to be received within the recessesor depressions'bt in the under-surfaceoi. the backing member to so that while the seat may be positively moved from one of its swivel positions to another it-is firmly held in one position'wagainst' unintentional displacement. a p

The seat construction above described is exceptionally simple in both its construction and its use. The operator of a vehicle to which the seat is a'ttachedmay very easily turn from one position to another so that he is in the best position for performing various operative functions of the vehicle, and the "seat may be tilted toan out of the .way position so that the operator may stand and continue to operate his vehicle in the usual way.

In Fig. 9 a modified form of border frame 82 is illustrated in which theframe is generally rectangular in shape the sameas in'the embodiment described above. The cross-sectionalconfiguration is different, however, in that an outwardly disposed flange Illlis formed around all four edges thereof which corresp0nds.to-the flangel i above described. The'upper portion 01'. the wrder frame is then drawn outwardly above the wall portion I92 to provide an overhanging portion IM therearound. The overhanging portion: ltd forms with the flange I M and thebase mlachannel corresponding to the channel 22 above described for the reception of the wire element 38.

In order to retain the spring elements 25 in place and properly position the spring elements so'that the ends thereof'overhang the trout and rear. edges of the border frame, an upstanding plate member 106 is disposed along the forward edge of the border frame and is fixed ,to the .wall

larplate member -issimilarly attached to the corners of the seat it, it is drawn or'shaped inwardly as indicated at iii. As in the embodi merit descri above this structure defines a load supporting area of proper relation and position 3 relative to the supmrting back Mil.

Formal changes may be made in thespecific embodiments of the invention described without departing from the spirit and substance of the invention, the scope of which is commensurate with the appended claims.

' What I claim is;

l. A vehicle seat construction comp .asupporting member extending toward the'rear of said vehicle, an elongated mountimr member overlying said supporting'member, means pivotally connecting the rear end of said mounting mom-'- ber to said supporting member, means relebly connecting the opposite end of said mounting member to said supporting member, a spring seat 1 structure, and swivel means located at substantially the media point of said seat structure connectlng said seatstructure to said mounting member, whereby said seat structure may be swiveled and tilted back relative to said supporting member.

2. A vehicle seat construction comprising an elongated supporting member extending toward the rear of said vehicle and having a substantial- 1y horizontal portion adjacent-the rear end thereof, an elongated mounting member disposed over said horizontal portion, means pivotally'conriecting the rear end of said mounting member to the horizontal portion of said supporting member,

- means releasably connecting the other end of said mounting member to said supporting membet, a spring seat structure having a resilient load supporting surface, said spring seat structure including a backing member disposed under said spring surfaceand swivel means'located at sub- 1 portion I92 by spot welding or the like. A simistantially the media point of said backing mom-- ber connecting said backing member to said mounting member, wherebyv said seat structure baolr supporting member.' I

3. A vehicle seat construction comprising an elongated supporting member extending toward the rear of said vehicle, an elongated mounting member overlying said supporting member, means pivotally connecting the rear end of said mount? "2,242,884 ma be swiveled and tilted back relative to saiding member to said supporting member, a seat member.

4. A vehicle seat construction comprising a supporting member extending toward the rear of said vehicle, an elongated mounting member dis-v posed over said supporting member; means pivotally connecting one end of said mounting member to said supporting member, a spring seat including a border frame, elongated spring elements spanning said frame and. connected to opposite edges thereof, a plate-like backing member connected to said border frame, andswivel means located at substantially the media point of said backing member connecting said seat to said' mounting member, whereby said; seat may be swiveled and tilted relative to said supporting ALFRED H. HABERSTUMP. 

